Our History
First Lutheran Church was organized in 1945 by Rev. Edwin Berner, the pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stuttgart, Kansas. Services were held in a small chapel above the old Ben Franklin Store in Phillipsburg until a country schoolhouse was purchased and moved to town. Members worked on the relocated building until it was suitable for services. The building was dedicated on June 15, 1947. Charter members of the congregation were Ed Dusin, Alfred Dusin, and Alex Howard. Rev. Berner continued to serve both Trinity and First as well as St. John's in Kensington and Zion Lutheran in Athol.
On March 5, 1950, Trinity merged with First Lutheran. The increase in membership created the need for more space so the building was enlarged with a fourteen-foot addition, increasing the seating capacity to about 50. As the congregation continued to grow, the need for additional seating and Sunday School rooms became pressing. A second addition to accommodate these needs was begun in 1962. Rev. Kenneth Piepenbrink was our pastor when the new overflow and Sunday School rooms were dedicated in 1965.
Ten years later, in 1975, remodeling of the church sanctuary was begun. This project included new walls, as well as the installation of a new ceiling, colored glass windows, an indirect lighting system, wall to wall carpeting, new pews and new chancel furnishings in the sanctuary. New carpeting in the Sunday school rooms and the pastor's office completed the remodeling project. Rev. Frank Rothfuss served the congregation during the time of this remodeling. On Sunday, March 14, 1976, members dedicated the new appointments in the remodeled sanctuary in a special worship service with Dr. Arlen J. Bruns officiating.
God has blessed the congregation with continued growth. As a result of this blessing, another building project began in 1986. This project includes an expanded entryway, upstairs bathrooms, a new kitchen, fellowship hall and storage. The addition was 93 by 36 feet with a full basement that is used for Sunday school rooms. The members of First Lutheran Church and their pastor, Rev. Joel Hiesterman, joined with friends in the celebration of Dedication on February 21, 1988.
In 2007 the congregation members completed a focused pledge drive to tear down the existing sanctuary and basement to make room for the addition of a new, enlarged sanctuary with a full walkout basement all attached to the 1988 addition. Our Building Committee secured grants and led by skilled members of the congregation, other member volunteers, and Laborers for Christ, the new addition was completed and dedicated on November 18, 2007.
Our Pastors
Rev. Edwin E. Berner 1946-1952
Rev. Walter E. Heddrich Vacancy 1952
Rev. Andrew Maken 1953-1955
Rev. F.C. Rhode Vacancy 1955
Rev. William Newton 1956-1958
Rev. Royden Frese Vacancy 1959
Rev. John Nierman 1959-1960
Rev. Carl Juergensen Vacancy 1960 -1962
Rev. Kenneth Piepenbrink 1962-1965
Rev. Kenneth Bierman Vacancy 1966
Rev. Dennis Hill Vacancy 1966
Rev. Gerald Preuss 1966-1971
Rev. Gerald Broogard Vacancy 1971-1972
Rev. Frank Rothfuss 1972-1978
Rev. Doug Zurek Vacancy 1978
Rev. Joel Hiesterman 1979-2018
Rev. Dave Hutson Vacancy 2018-2019
Rev. James Peterson 2019-2022
Rev. Dave Hutson Vacancy 2022-2024
Rev. Matthew Goehring Vacancy 2025- present
On July 21st, 2019, Alena Riffel was baptized into Christ.
On August 1st, 2019, Raven Wood was baptized into Christ.
